Cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin pledged to donate his eyes during an eye donation awareness campaign held by Rajan Eye Care Hospital on Saturday.
“We have recently launched my foundation, Ashwin Foundation, where eye donation is one of the main areas of focus. Today I made a difference by donating my eyes, and I hope others would come forward to support the cause,” he said.
Mohan Rajan, Chairman and Managing Director of the hospital, said that out of the 20 million people who are blind in India, 26 per cent have corneal blindness and majority of them are children.
“If individuals come forward and donate their eyes it will help not only the recipient, but also his entire family. If a child is blind, the entire family is affected and the number of years they lose due to childhood blindness is a lot. But if people come forward and donate, it will make a huge difference,” he said.
Educationist and founder of PSBB Group of Schools Mrs. YGP and actor Y. G. Mahendra participated. Mrs. YGP lauded Mr. Ashwin’s initiative, who studied at PSBB school.
“People like Mohan and Ashwin, our students, have been teaching us teachers a lot. I wish them great success,” she said and presented a trophy to Mr. Ashwin for his achievements in cricket.
“Around 90 people die every day in the city, but eye banks only get around 12 pairs. We need more donations, and I hope more people come forward to support,” said Dr. Mohan Rajan.
